Machine element alignment positioner

ABSTRACT

A compact portable positioner includes a movable table on a main body with ball bearing means between the table and the body for allowing precise transverse and/or longitudinal movement in the horizontal plane. Lifting means support the main body to provide the third dimensional adjustment so that movement of the table in either plane does not upset previous adjustment. The ball bearing means comprises a plurality of balls held captive by an apertured plate means held in a frame of suitable resilient material, such as polyethylene foam. The frame is attached to the table and the body to provide biasing means for urging the table to the home position. Adjusting and fixing means in the horizontal plane preferably includes opposed jackscrews and may include nonparallel vertical cam surfaces and jackscrews having frustoconical terminal ends. The lifting means may be mechanical screws resting on indented bearing plates, or alternatively hydraulic lift cylinders with a control circuit having check valves and bypasses to effect operation.

nited States Pat I Murray, J 7

[ 3,849,857 [451 Nov. 26, 1974 1 MACHINE- ELEMENT ALIGNMENT POSITIONER[76] Inventor: Malcolm G. Murray, Jr., 1907 McFarland, Baytown, Tex.77520 22 Filed: July 5,1973

21 Appl. No.: 376,568

[52] US. Cl. 29/200 P, 248/346, 308/9 [51] Int. Cl... B23b 19/00, A47g29/00, F160 35/00 [58] Field of Search 29/200 P, 200 1; 248/346;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,578,28l 5/1971 Nielsen etal 308/9 X Primary ExaminerThomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Lowe, King & Price [57] ABSTRACT A compact portable po'sitionerincludes a movable table on a main body with ball bearing means betweenthe table and the body for allowing precise transverse and/0rlongitudinal movement in the horizontal plane. Lifting means support themain body to provide the third dimensional adjustment so that movementof the table in either plane does not upset previous adjustment. Theballbearing means comprises a plurality of balls held captive by anapertured plate means held in a frame of suitable resilient material,such as polyethylene foam. The frame is attached to the table and thebody to provide biasing means for urging the table to the home position.Adjusting and fixing means in the horizontal plane preferably includesopposed jackscrews and may include nonparallel vertical cam surfaces andjackscrews having frusto-conical terminal ends. The lifting means may bemechanical screws resting on indented bearing plates, or alternativelyhydraulic lift cylinders with a control circuit having check valves andbypasses to effect operation.

21 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Pmmnmvzsmm v $849,857 sum 30F 3 I PUMPREESERVOR MACHINE ELEMENT ALIGNMENTPOSITIONER The present inventionrelatesto an alignment positioner for machine elements or the like, andmore particularly, to a positioner that is portable and provideshorizontal and vertical adjustments without affecting previous verticaland horizontal adjustments, respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION elements, such as the driver and drivenshafts, has been carried out by either using built-in jacking devices oran array of common hand tools and devices in a very inefficient manner.

As to the built-in arrangement, transverse and longitudinal jackscrewsare mounted on the driver baseplate or soleplates, to exert forceagainst driver feet and thereby permit precise movement in the desireddirection in the horizontal plane. Built-in vertical jackscrews are alsosometimes employed, arranged to lift the driver for insertion orremovalof shims between the driver feet and supporting surfaces. Suchjackscrews work reasonably well, but require that a certain proceduralorder be followed, i.e., vertical adjustments first, then horizontaladjustments, repeated until desired alignment accuracy is achieved. Thisis because vertical adjustments can and usually do cause some horizontalmovement, but horizontal adjustments do not affect vertical positioning,which is controlled by the shims.

The main disadvantage of built-in jackscrews is their cost, sincetheymust be welded or otherwise attached I to the machine feet orsupporting baseplate and become integral with one machine only, thusrequiring a separate set for every machine. A further disadvantage isthe difficulty in their field installation. If not equipped withjackscrews before field installation, limited access or hot-workrestrictions may preclude their later addition in the field. I

Where permanent jackscrews are not installed, the common tools that areused include portable clamp-on jackscrews, portable hydraulic jacks,wedges, pry bars,

cranes, hoists, and sledge hammers. Usually a combination of severalsuch tools is required to move a-large the positioner and the movabletable. Heretofore, one

type of low friction bearing in such an apparatus re quired theprovision of a quantity of grease between the main body and movabletable. The grease in such an apparatus is confined to the area betweenthe main body' and movable table with an O-ring. The grease must beinjected via an external high pressure gun, and allowed to exhaust atthe completion of each usage. Although satisfactory as a bearing thegrease injection and removal requirement is somewhat inconvenient andmessy. Such a system is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,578,281. I

I have previously devised a plotting system that is useful indrastically cutting the time of the trial and error operations using thecommon hand tools of the past, as described above. This system allowsthe installer to take a few simple measurements, plot them on a boardand then read from the board the movements necessary to bring the twoshafts or elements into alignment. This invention entitled MachineElement Alignment System is disclosed and claimed in my previous US.patent application, Ser. No. 227,525, filed Feb. 17, 1972, now US. Pat.No. 3,789,507. Thus, this plotting'system has greatly alleviated thedifficulty with aligning machine elements and has reduced the cost andtime involved. But prior to the present invention, the non-specializedhand tools still had to be used in order to move the motor or othermachine element into position. Thus, even after developing the plottingsystem of my previous invention, there was a need for a portablemechanical device that'could be easily positioned in the small verticalspace under the machine element with jacking devices to be actuated tolift the element in the vertical direction to provide the Y axisadjustment of the output shaft, and with separate adjustingmeans to, beactuated to provide the necessary X and Z adjustment in the horizontalplane. Once the aligned position is reached, the permanent supports,including shims, if necessary, could be placed under the feet of themachine, the machine bolted down and then the positioners removed foruse at another time.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION Thus, itis one object of the presentinvention to provide a new, specialized tool for positioning a machineelement or the like in the vertical, as well as the horizontal planes.

It is still another object of the present inventionto provide analignment positioner of the type described wherein the verticalpositioning step does not affect the horizontal positioning step so thatprevious adjustments are not upset.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide amachinery alignment positioner that is substantially universal in use,is safe and easy to use, is compact and portable, and has a low initialcost factor since its cost may be prorated over a great number ofmachines which it will be used to align.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide acombined vertical and horizontal positioner utilizing vertical screwsresting on indented bearing plates for the Y-axis adjustment, oralternatively hydraulic liftcylinders, and a ball bearing supportedtable for precise adjustment along the X and Z axes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION pairs beneath the machine andpreferably two mechanical or hydraulic jacking devices are attached toeach body. The positioners are placed under the machine at any locationspaced from the area of the machine feet so that the machine is safelybalanced during the alignment procedure. Lifting means can be eithermechanical, such as jackscrews resting on indented bearing plates, orhydraulic, such as cylinder rams actuated by external hydraulic pressuremeans. The choice will be determined by factors such as weight to beraised, available space, and number of machines to be aligned. Thevarious lifting methods cited are equally applicable without departingfrom the broad aspects of the present invention.

In both embodiments illustrated, jackscrews threadedly engage the mainbody in opposed relationship across the table and are operated to adjustand fix the table in any horizontal position, when the full weight ofthe machine to be aligned is being carried by the positioners. Careshould be taken to see that the machine being aligned is completelypicked up so as to satisfy this full weight supporting requirement,since a dragging foot of the machine makes horizontal movementdifficult, if not impossible. That is, two opposing screws on the sidesof the positioner are operative to move the machine so that theextending shaft to be aligned is moved along the X axis. The Z axisalignment, that is the movement of the shaft toward and away from thedesired point, i.e., the end of the shaft to which it is to be aligned,is accomplished by opposed jackscrews at the front and the rear of thepositioner device. Alternatively, or in supplement to these positioners,at least two non-parallel vertical cam surfaces can be used for thehorizontal'positioning step, especially where access at the sides of thepositioner is restricted.

The movable table is positioned for precise directional movement in theX and Z senses, on a bed of bearing balls. These bearings are held by anapertured horizontal spaced plate means and a frame of polyethylene foamor other suitable resilient material extends around the same. The framenot only serves to seal the space that houses the bearing balls, but isfixedly attached to the table as well as the main body so that as thetable is moved in one direction or the other a bias is provided to allowreturn of the table to the home position when the vertical loading forceis released. The resilient frame also serves to lift the table free ofthe bearing balls when no load is applied, thus facilitating return ofthe ball bearing assembly to the home or center position.

The mechanical screw lift system of one embodiment is preferably madefrom stationary vertically threaded apertures in outboard projections orblocks attached to the main body at each of its two sides, into whichare screwed vertically extending jackscrews having convex bottom ends.The'ends mate with indentations on flat horizontal bearing plates whichrest on the baseplate or foundation beneath the machine element to beadjusted for alignment. Gradual adjustment of the two screws causes thepositioner to raise and lower said machine element for Y-axisadjustment.

As stated above, the positioners are normally used in pairs and thesecond positioner of the pair, situated at the other end of said machineelement, is adjusted equally and at the same time. The two positionerscan be adjusted in successive small steps to avoid significantinequality, thus raising or lowering said machine element whilemaintaining it level. Support via the aforementioned indented bearingplates, assures absence of undesired horizontal movement or walking asthe jackscrews are adjusted. Other mechanical lifting or jackingsystems, such as ratcheting rack-and-pawl devices, or rack-and-piniondevices, could he used without departing from the broad aspects of thepresent invention.

The hydraulic lifting system which can be used as an alternative to themechanical system hereinbefore described, is preferably made withhydraulic lifting cylinders or rams attached to the main body in placeof the jackscrews described previously, and with the bearing platesomitted. The ram pistons are caused to move vertically through the openlower ends of their respective cylinders formed in the mounting blocks,thus raising and lowering the positioners as desired, in order to effectthe Y-axis positioning. Hydraulic pressure is imposed by means of a pumpor pumps working through a control circuit, such pumps beingconventional piston types; or alternatively the pumps may be hydraulicrams with external force applied mechanically through a linkagemechanism, oppositely acting rams with force applied by screw mechanismsand a single pump, or other suitable means, to effect the necessaryequalized raising and lowering movements at all four support positions.

Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomereadily apparent to those skilled in this art from the followingdetailed description, wherein l have shown and described only thepreferred embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration ofthe best modes contemplated by me of carrying out my invention. As willbe realized, the invention BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is aperspective view of a motor lifted and aligned by a pair of positionersconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a positioner constructed in accordance with thepresent invention with a portion of the support table cut awayforclarity;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through FIG. 2 and followinglines 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a schematic showing of the hydraulic system for operating thetandem positioners of the invention as shown in operation in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detailed schematic of one of the control circuits that isused in the hydraulic system of FIG. 4 in accordance with the teachingsof the invention;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic diagram of an alternative hydraulic circuitutilizing oppositely-acting rams and screws; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative screw lift systemthat may be substituted for the hydraulic means shown in the foregoingfigures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1, there isshown a motor M that represents the type of machine element that may bereadily aligned by preferably. using a pairof alignment positioners-10.A singlepositioner (not shown), utilizing three or'four lifting pointsrather'than the normal two, could be used in special cases whereshortness of the machine element to be aligned provides insufficientspace for the preferred arrangement of a pair of positioners. Insuchcase, said single positioner must be placed beneath said machine ator near its center of gravity. In the specific instance as illustrated,the pair of positioners is arranged in tandem on the mounting surface11. Cradling wedges'W on the positioners support-the housing of themotor M spaced from the permanent mounting stand or feet 12. The motor Mhas an output shaft 13 with connecting collar 13a that is to be alignedwith the corresponding input shaft 14 and connecting collar 14a for thedriven machine. As

shown in this Figure, the positioners 10 have been raised for verticalpositioning of the motor M and the support for the wedges W directlysupporting the motor has also been shifted to determine the properhorizontal location. The illustrated space between the collars 13a, 14ais the orientation when flexible members are included between thecollars to make a flexible coupling. Thus, and as will be seen infurther-detail later,

theshaft and coupling 13, 13 a may typically be lifted for alignmentalong the Y axis (up and down); then it may be shifted horizontallyalong the Z-axis (in and out); and then finally along the X-axis (fromside to side) in order to provide the alignment desired between thecoupling collars 13a, 14a. In performing the Y-axis alignment thepositioners actually first lift the motor slightly higher than necessaryfor reaching the Y-axis alignment position, whereupon shims are insertedor removed beneath the motor feet in designated area A (FIG. 1). Thepositioners are thus in the Y-axis, primarily a jacking means to allowthe required shim insertion under the feet of the machine element; theshims themselves thereby providing the precision. Although the,

use of the apparatus of the present invention for alignment of the shaft13 of large electrical motors, such as the motor M, with any input shaft14 is particularly advantageous, it is to be understood that use withother types of machines or devices is contemplated. Furthermore,- otheruses, such as where precise positioning of a workpiece with respect to amachine tool is necessary, will readily occur to those skilled in theart.

Thus, it will be readily apparent that once-the position desired isreached, as shown in FIG. l and just described, the permanentsupport'shims or plates (not 'shown) are placed under the machine feet12 in the designated area A. After bolting down the motor M, it is thenpermanently attached to the surface 11.

I A top view of the alignment positioner 10 of the present invention isshown in FIG. 2. This figure considered in conjunction with thecross-sectional view of FIG. 3,

- now allows a more detailed description of the specific I mechanicalstructure to be given. Thus, a main body 15 ized fluid through thechannel 20 (see FIG. 2) extend-' ing from the coupling 21. Positionedwithin the chamber 19 is the movable piston P resting on spacers 22 (seeFIG. 3). It should thus be realized that when the chambers 19, 19a areprovided with hydraulic fluid under pressure the lift blocks 17, 17a arelifted, which in turn, lifts the main body 15, thereby raising the motorM for alignment along the Y axis, and transferring motor weight to thepositioners so that horizontal Z and X axis alignment adjustments can bemade.

Situated within the enclosure of the main body 15 is the-supportingtable 25, as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The base for the table is madeup of an upper plate 26 and a lower plate 27. These plates 26 and 27 arepremanently attached by epoxy, for example, to the table 25 and thebottom of the body 15, respectively. The opposed faces, which arehardened and ground flat, serve as engaging surfaces for theball bearingmeans that accommodates the-horizontal movement; i.e., the movement inthe directions of the X and Z axes. This ball bearing means ispreferably made up of a plurality of balls 29 that are spaced oversubstantially the full expanse of the opposed faces. The balls 29 areheld in their spaced'positions by apertured plate means,

balls 29, whereby the motor M is supported for movement along the X or Zaxes, or in any direction in the horizontal plane in between.

Surrounding the ball bearing means including the balls 29, there isprovided a resilient frame 35. This frame is preferably made ofpolyethylene foam so as to be resilient and capable of distortion forpurposes that will be presently evident. The top and bottom surfaces ofthe frame are attached by adhesive strips 36 so that relative shiftingmovement of the upper and lower plates 26, 27 is in fact restrained.

As shown in FIG. 3, the frame 35 has sufficient memory and resilientstrength to raise the plate 26 and the attached table 25 up free fromthe balls 29 when the load or motor M is not in position. This featureimproves joint adhesion, and also allows the ball-andspacer assembly toreturn to the center or neutral position when the load is removed.Positioned on top of the table 25 can be any number of extra shims 37 sothat the vertical gap between table 25 and motor M can be occupiedsufficiently to allow necessary vertical move-' ment without exceedingthe limit of the-vertical lifting means, in this case the stroke lengthof the pistons P.

On top of these shims may be positioned the pair of wedges W thatprovide a cradle for holding the motor M and further-occupy theaforementioned gap. Such wedges W would be used on a cylindrical motor,as shown, to provide necessary stability. They would be omitted on amotor having a flat horizontal bottom support surface.

The full periphery of the table 25 and the support assembly therefor,including plates 26, 27 and frame 35, are sealed in by an imperviouslayer of coated rubber compound, shown in FIG. 3, as coating 40. Thiscoating 40 thus prevents corrosive material and other foreign matterfrom interfering with the precision movement of the table 25 and alsoseals in the resilient frame 35 to prevent deterioration due to sunlightand other ambient conditions. It is noted that the contact points forthe adjustment screws, presently to be considered, are left free of thecompound so as to provide the precision adjustment surfaces that areneeded.

There are jackscrews 43, 44 threadedly mounted in the body so as to havetheir free ends engage the opposite sides of the table 25. Thisadjustment means allows the table 25 to be controllably moved from sideto side or along the X axis, as shown in FIG. 1, so as to provide thealignment, as previously discussed, with great ease. Similar jackscrews45, 46 are positioned op posite each other on the two opposite sides(front and rear) of the table 25. These jackscrews 45, 46 provide forthe travel of the motor M, and thus the shaft 13 toward and away fromthe mating part or along the Z axis, as shown in FIG. 1.

Because the configurations of some machines that are to be aligned makeit difficult to reach the side screws 43, 44, there may also be provideda pair of camming action screws 47, 48 on the same side as the screw 46.The screws 47, 48 have truncated coneshaped ends that engagerespective'alignment blocks 49, 50 on the rear of the table 25. Each ofthe abutment blocks 49, 50 have vertical cam surfaces 49', 50 tocooperate with the truncated cone ends. It will be noted that these camsurfaces 49, 50' are non-parallel and vertical so that the table 25 isprovided with components of movement to the side and to the front. Thus,in an instance where the side jackscrews 43, 44 cannot be reached, theyare merely backed off, as shown in FIG. 2. The position along the Z axiscan then be set by the opposed jackscrews 45, 46 and the side movementmay be accomplished by driving one cam screw 48 forward and the othercam screw 47, for example, backward. The desired positioning along the Xaxis can thus be achieved where access is a problem with littleadditional effort. Of course, many variations of combinations of thescrews 4348 and the sequence of actuation can be used to get just theexact positioning desired with the least amount of time and effort.

The use of jackscrews 4348 opposing each other is desirable since notonly can the adjustment be made with precision, but also when theprecise position is reached, the table 25 can be securely locked inposition by oppositely torquing the opposed jackscrews sufficiently toprevent any movement. The camming jackscrews 47, 48 are particularlyuseful in this regard since they effectively lock in the X direction,and also in the Z direction with the combined use of the screw 45.

The resilient frame 35 is, as explained earlier, effectively coupled toboth the upper plate 26 and the lower plate 27, such as by adhesive 36.Thus, upon shifting of the table 25 by selective activation of one ormore of the jackscrews 4348, said frame 35 is distorted or deformed inorder to permit the movement. This intentional deformation of theresilient material is advantageous since there is thus in effect abiasing means for urging the table to the centered home position at alltimes. Thus, if the table 25 is to be moved along the Z axis, and saythe direction of movement is to be toward the front side having thejackscrew 45, the jackscrew 45. can be backed off and the jackscrew 46operated forward with the distortion of the frame 35 assuring thatconstant pressure is maintained between the tip of the jackscrew 46 andthe screw contact point on the perimeter of the table 25. When theadjusted position has been reached, the screw 45 can then be broughtback into locking position. Alternatively, of course, the screws 45, 46can be operated in exact conjunction (opposite rotation) with oneanother.

After the alignment has taken place and the posi tioner lowered and themotor M has been permanently mounted, the table 25 may be automaticallybrought to the home centered position in readiness for the nextcentering operation by merely backing off all of the screws 43-48, andthen bringing them back in until theyjust touch the table 25. Ifanovertravel (up to double) adjustment in one direction is needed, thiscan be provided by pre-setting the appropriate screws all the way to oneside. Cotter pins 51 (FIG. 2) may be provided to limit the retractionmovement of the screws 4348 to prevent excessive movement which couldrupture resilient frame 35, as well as to prevent inadvertent removalleading to possible loss of the screws. The rubber coating 40 flexes asthe alignments are being made and will assist in the repositioningaction.

Each chamber 19, 19a in the respective lift blocks 17, 17a is filledwith pressurized hydraulic fluid through transfer lines 55, 56, as shownin FIG. 4. Preferably, each of these lines is provided from separatepumps P P with the fluid being transferred through the lines by acontrol circuit 57 that is identical for each subsystem. Where theadditional positioner II is utilized, additional pumps P P controlcircuits and transfer lines are used, as shown in FIG. 4. Since themotor M is preferably raised or lowered uniformly along the full lengththereof, operating levers 58 may be moved individually in smallincrements, or connected with gang link 59 and moved in unison, toattain equal movement at the four lifting points.

The control circuit 57 is shown in more detail in FIG. 5. The pump Preceives fluid from intake line 60 from pump reservoir 61 and throughinlet check valve 62. A movement of piston 63 for suction (to the rightas shown in FIG. 5) brings hydraulic fluid into the pump chamber throughthe inlet line '60. When the piston 63 is moved in the opposite or powerdirection, that is in the left hand direction as shown in FIG. 5, thefluid will be checked by the valve 62 and thus forced through line 64and check valve 65 (valves 66 and 67 remain closed during thisoperation). The fluid thus flows through line 55, entering chamber 19and forcing piston P down (see FIG. 3), thus serving to lift the block17, and in turn, the body 15 and the motor M. The piston 63 of pump Pcan be operated so that the motor M thus rises as desired for alignment.When ready to lower the motor, bypass valve 66 is opened, and piston 63is moved to the right to allow precise reverse flow of the fluid out ofchamber 19, thus causing precise lowering of the motor M. If loweringhas not been completed by the end of piston 63 stroke limit, bypassvalve 66 is closed, and bypass valve 67 is opened, allowing piston 63 toreturn to the left extremity of its stroke, pushing excess fluid intothe reservoir 61. Valve 67 is then closed, valve 66 reopened, and thelowering procedure is repeated by moving piston 63 to the right again.Whe the motor M is lowered fully, so that the positioners 10 areunloaded fully, any remaining extenclosed, and distributing valves68,72, 73, and 74 are opened. Screws 70, 75, 76, and 77 are loosenedfully,

' and the pump P is stroked to the left to raise pilot pistons 78, 79,80, and 81 equally to about /3 of their stroke limit. Valves 68, 72, 73,and 74 are then closed, and valve 67 is opened. The pump is thusdeactivated and takes no further part in the proceeding. Screws 70, 75,76, and 77 are then tightened in rigid C-frames 71, 82, 83, and 84against the pistons 78, 79, 80, and 81, respectively, using small andequal successive movements to depress said pistons. These pistonmovements cause the respective pistons P (see FIG. 3) in chambers 19,19a in lift blocks 17, 17a to be forced down, lifting their respectivepositioners by amounts equal to the respective depressions ofcorresponding pistons 78, 79, 80 and 81. When alignment movement iscomplete, and letdown is desired, the screws are loosened in small equalmovements, thus allowing the lifting procedure to be reversed, untilletdown is complete.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative mechanical jackscrew arrangement which canbe used instead of the hydraulic arrangements described previously.Threaded lift lug 85 is analogous to the lift block 17 and is bolteddirectly to the body for support cooperation with shoulder 16. Liftingscrew 86 threadedly engages the vertical, threaded aperature in lug 85,and its convex lower tip rests in the oiled depression or indentation ofbearing plate 87 supported by the spacer 22. Wrenching or turning thescrew 86 causes frame and thereby the positioner 10, to be raised orlowered as desired, to accomplish Y-axis alignment or positioning ofmotor M. This mechanical screw system has the advantages of greatersimplicity, compactness, and lower cost than thehydraulic systems. Thehydraulic versions, on the other hand, have a higher load capacity. Asdepicted, however, it is possible to convert the basic positioner 10 toeither the mechanical or hydraulic mode, by re moving one lifting meansand installing the other by use of bolts, or bolts plus holding clamps(see FIGS. 2 and 3).

In view of the foregoing, it is believed apparent that a compact,portable positioner has been provided that upset, during the lowering ofthe machine onto its shimmed supports which actually establish finalY-axis alignment. The ball bearing means. for the movement of the tableallows'precise and easy adjustment in the horizontal plane and theresilient frame provides for resilient centering and release of pressurefrom the balls 29 during the inoperative periods.

In this disclosure, there is shown and described only the preferredembodiments of the invention, but, as aforementioned, it is to beunderstood that the invention is capable of use in various othercombinations and environment and is capable of changes or modificationswithin the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein.

I claim:

1. A portable positioner for effecting threedimensional alignment of onemachine element or the like with another comprising a main body, amovable table on said body for support of said one machine element, aplurality of balls positioned between said table and said main body forallowing precise movement in the horizontal plane to provide fortwo-dimensional X and Z adjustment andmeans for vertically lifting saidmain body to provide for the third dimensional Y adjustment, wherebymovement of said table in either plane does not upset previousadjustment in the other.

2. The positioner of claim 1 wherein is further provided means coupledto said body to adjust and fix said table in the desired horizontalposition.

3. The positioner of claim 2 wherein is furtherprovided biasing meansfor urging said table to the centered home position when said adjustingand fixing means is released.

4. The positioner of claim 3 wherein said adjusting and fixing meansincludes atleast two non-parallel vertical cam surfaces on said table,corresponding cam actuating elements on said body to press against saidsurfaces to adjust said table over the infinite range of positionswithin the movement limits of said table.

5. The positioner of claim 4 wherein said cam actuating elementscomprise at least two jackscrews, each screw having a frusto-conicalterminal end mating with said cam surfaces.

6. The positioner of claim 3 wherein said adjusting and fixing meansinclude at least two pairs of substantially opposed jackscrews toprovide positive horizontal adjustment in the directions parallel andperpendicular to the shaft axis of the machine to be adjusted foralignment.

7. The positioner of claim 1 further including horizontal spacer platemeans having apertures holding said balls in position.

8. The positioner of claim 7 wherein is further provided means coupledto said body to adjust and fix said table in the desired horizontalposition, and biasing means for urging said table to the centered homeposition when said adjusting and fixing means is released, said biasingmeans includinga resilient frame extending around said bearing means,coupling means to connect said frame to said table and said main body,whereby upon planar relative movement between said table and said mainbody said frame is deformed to generate the biasing action.

9. The positioner of claim 8 wherein said frame has sufficient effectivethickness to lift said table from said balls upon removal of a load,whereby return of the bearing balls and spacer plate to centered homeposition is facilitated.

18. The positioner of claim 8 wherein said frame is fabricated ofresilient foam sheet material, and an impervious coating forming aflexible perimeter seal around said frame.

11. The positioner of claim 9 wherein said frame includes inwardlydirected projections engaging the edges of said plate means to hold thesame in position.

12. The positioner of claim 1 wherein said lifting means includeshydraulic jack means attached to said main body.

13. The positioner of claim 12 wherein said jack means includes a liftblock having a closed end cylinder, a lifting piston mating with saidcylinder through the open end and a hydraulic control circuit connectedto said cylinder to supply the same with pressure liquid to lift saidblock and said body.

14. The positioner of claim 13 wherein said control circuit includespump means, a connecting line between said pump and said cylinder andcheck valve means to allow normal flow of liquid only to said cylinder,and valved bypass means to allow reverse flow to allow pump controlledlowering movement of said body.

15. The positioner of claim 14 wherein said body is supported by atleast two lift blocks, and a'control circuit as described for each.

16. The positioner of claim 15 wherein is provided a link to connect theactuating means for said pumps to assure lifting and lowering action inconcert.

17. The positioner of claim 14 wherein said control circuit includesrelease valve means to directly release the pressure in said cylinderand lower said body.

18. The positioner of claim 13 wherein said control circuit includes ahydraulic ram with an operating cylinder and piston, said cylinder beingconnected by transfer passage to said closed end cylinder of said jackmeans, means to move said operating piston to raise and lower bytransfering hydraulic fluid to and from said lifting piston as requiredfor alignment.

19. The positioner of claim 18 wherein said moving means includes arigid frame, and a screw mounted on said frame for engaging saidoperating piston.

20. The positioner of claim 19 and wherein is provided one additionalpositioner as described, said positioners being located adjacentopposite ends of said machine element for support of the same, eachpositioner having two jack means, one on each side of said main body,said control circuit including a single pump and individual lines toeach transfer passage, and valve means for each individual line.

21. The positioner of claim 1 wherein said lifting means includesvertical jackscrews attached to said body, indented bearing plates toreceive the support ends of said jackscrews, whereby said jackscrews maybe turned for vertical adjustment and undesired horizontal movement isobviated.

1. A portable positioner for effecting three-dimensional alignment ofone machine element or the like with another comprising a main body, amovable table on said body for support of said one machine element, aplurality of balls positioned between said table and said main body forallowing precise movement in the horizontal plane to provide fortwo-dimensional X and Z adjustment and means for vertically lifting saidmain body to provide for the third dimensional Y adjustment, wherebymovement of said table in either plane does not upset previousadjustment in the other.
 2. The positioner of claim 1 wherein is furtherprovided means coupled to said body to adjust and fix said table in thedesired horizontal position.
 3. The positioner of claim 2 wherein isfurther provided biasing means for urging said table to the centeredhome position when said adjusting and fixing means is released.
 4. Thepositioner of claim 3 wherein said adjusting and fixing means includesat least two non-parallel vertical cam surfaces on said table,corresponding cam actuating elements on said body to press against saidsurfaces to adjust said table over the infinite range of positionswithin the movement limits of said table.
 5. The positioner of claim 4wherein said cam actuating elements comprise at least two jackscrews,each screw having a frusto-conical terminal end mating with said camsurfaces.
 6. The positioner of claim 3 wherein said adjusting and fixingmeans include at least two pairs of substantially opposed jackscrews toprovide positive horizontal adjustment in the directions parallel andperpendicular to the shaft axis of the machine to be adjusted foralignment.
 7. The positioner of claim 1 further including horizontalspacer plate means having apertures holding said balls in position. 8.The positioner of claim 7 wherein is further provided means coupled tosaid body to adjust and fix said table in the desired horizontalposition, and biasing means for urging said table to the centered homeposition when said adjusting and fixing means is released, said biasingmeans including a resilient frame extending around said bearing means,coupling means to connect said frame to said table and said main body,whereby upon planar relative movement between said table and said mainbody said frame is deformed to generate the biasing action.
 9. Thepositioner of claim 8 wherein said frame has sufficient effectivethickness to lift said table from said balls upon removal of a load,whereby return of the bearing balls and spacer plate to centered homeposition is facilitated.
 10. The positioner of claim 8 wherein saidframe is fabricated of resilient foam sheet material, and an imperviouscoaTing forming a flexible perimeter seal around said frame.
 11. Thepositioner of claim 9 wherein said frame includes inwardly directedprojections engaging the edges of said plate means to hold the same inposition.
 12. The positioner of claim 1 wherein said lifting meansincludes hydraulic jack means attached to said main body.
 13. Thepositioner of claim 12 wherein said jack means includes a lift blockhaving a closed end cylinder, a lifting piston mating with said cylinderthrough the open end and a hydraulic control circuit connected to saidcylinder to supply the same with pressure liquid to lift said block andsaid body.
 14. The positioner of claim 13 wherein said control circuitincludes pump means, a connecting line between said pump and saidcylinder and check valve means to allow normal flow of liquid only tosaid cylinder, and valved bypass means to allow reverse flow to allowpump controlled lowering movement of said body.
 15. The positioner ofclaim 14 wherein said body is supported by at least two lift blocks, anda control circuit as described for each.
 16. The positioner of claim 15wherein is provided a link to connect the actuating means for said pumpsto assure lifting and lowering action in concert.
 17. The positioner ofclaim 14 wherein said control circuit includes release valve means todirectly release the pressure in said cylinder and lower said body. 18.The positioner of claim 13 wherein said control circuit includes ahydraulic ram with an operating cylinder and piston, said cylinder beingconnected by transfer passage to said closed end cylinder of said jackmeans, means to move said operating piston to raise and lower bytransfering hydraulic fluid to and from said lifting piston as requiredfor alignment.
 19. The positioner of claim 18 wherein said moving meansincludes a rigid frame, and a screw mounted on said frame for engagingsaid operating piston.
 20. The positioner of claim 19 and wherein isprovided one additional positioner as described, said positioners beinglocated adjacent opposite ends of said machine element for support ofthe same, each positioner having two jack means, one on each side ofsaid main body, said control circuit including a single pump andindividual lines to each transfer passage, and valve means for eachindividual line.
 21. The positioner of claim 1 wherein said liftingmeans includes vertical jackscrews attached to said body, indentedbearing plates to receive the support ends of said jackscrews, wherebysaid jackscrews may be turned for vertical adjustment and undesiredhorizontal movement is obviated.